Comté, a renowned French cow’s milk cheese crafted from unpasteurized milk, holds the distinction of being a quintessential “mountain cheese,” originating in the picturesque mountains near the Swiss border.
This cheese has secured its place as one of France’s most beloved varieties. You can buy high-quality Comté cheese online at Gourmet Food Store.
Key Information:
- Ingredients: Raw cow’s milk
- Origin: France
- Aging: 4 months to 2 years
Overview of Comté Cheese
Hailing from the Jura Massif region in eastern France, Comté cheese is a semi-hard delicacy with a pale yellow hue. The texture varies from open, supple, and grainy for younger versions to dense, firm, and crystalline for the more aged varieties.
The matured Comté offers a delightful blend of nutty, smoky, fruity, and sweet flavors, while the younger ones lean towards a fresher, more milky taste.
The Art of Comté Making
Crafting Comté involves a meticulous three-step process, encompassing the care of cows, the cheese-making procedure, and the aging phase.
With its Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) status, stringent rules govern each step, from the specific cow breeds to the geographical distance between pasture and dairy.
The milk, sourced exclusively from Montbéliardes and French Simmental cows in the Jura Massif region, reflects the richness of the diverse grasses and wildflowers found in their spacious pastures.
The cheese-making process involves heating the milk, adding a starter culture, introducing rennet, and curdling the mixture. The curds are then molded to drain excess liquid.
Following a day of maturation, the cheese is transferred to cellars for aging, where it undergoes significant transformations in color, texture, and flavor.
Substitutes for Comté
In the absence of Comté, Gruyere, fontina, or Beaufort are excellent alternatives, offering similar nutty, buttery, and creamy profiles. When substituting, match the aging time to maintain a comparable taste.
Varieties of Comté
Comté comes in two main types – summer and winter. The seasonal diet variations of the cows contribute to distinctive characteristics. Summer Comté boasts an earthier flavor and a golden hue, while the winter version is milder and more milk-like.
Usage and Storage
Younger Comté excels in melting, making it ideal for fondue, omelets, grilled cheese, and mac and cheese. Aged varieties, resembling cheddar or Parmesan, are perfect for grating over dishes.
Comté’s optimal storage temperature is between 45 and 55 F, with the recommendation to let it sit at room temperature for an hour before serving.
Eating the Rind
Being a washed-rind cheese, Comté allows consumption of the rind, although it may be slightly salty. The outer part near the rind often boasts more developed flavors than the inner sections.
